As part of the project Theatre of extended realities, Theater an der Ruhr, KGI and MIREVI presented synchronised VR-multiuser-solution with 30+ Virtual Reality headsets and digital performance in real time.
In the distant future, the spaceship Antropka, with an exclusively female crew, races through space in search of a new planet for humanity. But what began as a rescue mission turns into a prison of control and surveillance: the AI ‘Momi’ regulates every aspect of life – from reproduction to death. When a male embryo is ‘accidentally’ born and undergoes gender reassignment, the perfect order begins to falter. The AI begins to reprogram itself, and with it, the spaceship is transformed into a place between nightmare and hope.
Antropka attempts a full-length mixed reality theatre play with real multiplayer co-presence. All spectators, performers and virtual objects exist together in a shared space – a technical breakthrough compared to previous forms of VR theatre. The audience sits in the middle of a 360° green screen stage and experiences how reality and virtuality merge. A visionary theatre experience that dissolves the boundaries between stage, film and virtual reality, raising existential questions about identity, control and survival.
The world premiere took place on Friday, 29th of August, with a second performance on Sunday, 31st of August. More performances are set to take place in November.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of NEUE WEGE in cooperation with the NRW KULTURsekretariat.